BROOKINGS — More than 100 youth participated in the 40th annual Rangeland and 19th annual Soils Days on June 12-13 in Watertown.

Adrik Schoon, of White River, won the Top Hand Award in the 14-18 age division of the rangeland contest. For the all-around award, Schoon won first place in the Go-Getter rangeland speech contest, second in the display contest and fifth individually in rangeland judging. He received a traveling trophy that will be his until next year’s event.

Schoon lives on a ranch, and credits that upbringing, along with his dad’s influence, with instilling an early love of the land. He said Rangeland and Soils Days are a fun way to meet new people and learn from experts and his peers.

“I learned a lot from so many talks this year,” he said. “That was really cool, to see a lot of young people stepping up to that.”

A joint effort between South Dakota State University Extension, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Codington County Conservation District, Rangeland and Soils Days gave youth an opportunity to compete through displays, presentations, a land and homesite contest, and a rangeland contest. There are four 4-H and FFA divisions in the rangeland contest: New Rangers (ages 8-10), Wranglers (ages 11-13), Scouts (ages 14-18) and Go-Getters (ages 14-18).

The top Go-Getter range judging 4-H team is from Jerauld County, and was comprised of Ridge Roduner, Hayes Christensen, Robert Hine and Landen Christensen, all of Wessington Springs. The top 4-H soils judging team is from Kingsbury County, with Gavin Temme, Chase Temme and Breyton Johnson, all of De Smet. Both teams will represent South Dakota at the National Land and Range Judging Contest in 2025.

Youth involved in 4-H and FFA ages 14-18 can participate in the Land and Homesite contest to learn more about soils. In the contest they determine soil texture and type, interpret soil limiting factors, and determine land capability while providing management recommendations. The Homesite Evaluation helps students determine suitability of the site for building foundations, lawns and landscaping, septic systems and sewage lagoons.

“Rangeland and Soils Days helps students learn critical skills to determine soil type, plant communities, habitat suitability, and soil suitability for homesites, among other skills,” said Krista Ehlert, assistant professor and SDSU Extension range specialist. “Students also can develop their public speaking skills in a speech contest and spend time with professionals in both range and soil sciences, giving them ideas and exposure to future career opportunities and mentors.”

For more information on Rangeland and Soils Days, contact Ehlert at 605-394-2236.

Complete 2024 Rangeland and Soils Days winners

Rangeland contest results

Team contests

4-H Go-Getter Team Results

1. Jerauld County Team 1: Ridge Roduner, Hayes Christensen, Robert Hine and Landen Christensen, all of Wessington Springs. Coached by Wade Christensen and Brady Duxbury.

2. Jerauld County Team 2: Peyton Walz, Nathan Gaikowski, Bailey Yost and Mercedes Jones, all of Wessington Springs. Coached by Wade Christensen and Brady Duxbury.

3. SD Invaders: Colt Pickell, Leola; Adrik Schoon, White River; Johnathon Neuharth, Fort Pierre; and Lidia Dupraz, Aurora.

FFA Go-Getter Team Results

1. Sunshine Bible Academy FFA: Dakota Boersma, Daraby Boersma and Tessa Hinman. Coached by Jason Burma.

2. West Central FFA: Alex Siemonsma, Humboldt; Sam Handberg, Stella Siemonsma and Kenasyn Johnson, all of Hartford. Coached by Linda Petersen.

3. Florence FFA: James Kahnke, Karter Kohlenberg, Keaton Zubke and Logan Kahnke. Coached by Adam Koll.

Wrangler Team Judging

1. Spink County: Haven Heber, Wessington Springs; Kinze Haskell, Wyatt Lambert, and Leo Johnson, all of Frankfort.

2. Lawrence County: Katy Scott and Tayzi Herrmann, both of Whitewood.

Individual results

4-H Go-Getter Judging

Ridge Roduner, Wessington Springs

Landen Christensen, Wessington Springs

Hayes Christensen, Wessington Springs

Mercedes Jones, Wessington Springs

Adrik Schoon, White River

Bailey Yost, Wessington Springs

Robert Hine, Wessington Springs

Johnathon Neuharth, Fort Pierre

Peyton Walz, Wessington Springs

FFA Go-Getter Judging

Dakota Boersma, Sunshine Bible Academy FFA

Daraby Boersma, Sunshine Bible Academy FFA

Kenasyn Johnson, West Central FFA

James Kahnke, Florence FFA

Sam Handberg, West Central FFA

Ketan Zubke, Florence FFA

Stella Siemonsma, West Central FFA

Karter Kohlenberg, Florence FFA

Alex Siemonsma, West Central FFA

Tessa Hinman, Sunshine Bible Academy FFA

Go-Getter Talks

Adrik Schoon, White River

Johnathon Neuharth, Fort Pierre

Caleb Gaikowski, Webster

Go-Getter Display

Johnathon Neuharth, Fort Pierre

Adrik Schoon, White River

Caleb Gaikowski, Webster

Scouts

Scouts Judging

Lidia Dupraz, Aurora

Caleb Roth, Highmore

Karlie Kammerer, Piedmont

Faith Frink, Wall

Skyler Plucker, Lennox

Scouts Talk

Karlie Kammerer, Piedmont

Wranglers

Wrangler Judging

Jesse Schoon, White River

Katy Scott, Whitewood

Kyle Gebhart, Meadow

Wyatt Lambert, Doland

Tayzi Herrmann, Whitewood

Wrangler Talks

Haven Heber, Wessington Springs

Jesse Schoon, White River

Katy Scott, Whitewood

Wrangler Displays

Kyle Gebhart, Meadow

Katy Scott, Whitewood

Jesse Schoon, White River

Wrangler Plant Mounts

Wyatt Lambert, Doland

New Rangers

New Rangers Judging

Mya Koenig, Fairfax

Emelia Stoebner, Webster

Vada Enfield, Letcher

Neva VanderPoel, Pipestone, Minn.

Brielle Schoon, White River

New Rangers Talks

Harley Heber, Wessington Springs

Vada Enfield, Letcher

Beau Enfield, Letcher

New Rangers Display

Harley Heber, Wessington Springs

Della Scott, Whitewood

Beau Enfield, Letcher

New Rangers Plant Mounts

Cora Larson, Langord

Skylar Bender, Britton

Vada Enfield, Letcher

Top Hand Awards

New Ranger

Harley Heber, Wessington Springs

Wrangler

Jesse Schoon, White River

Go-Getter

Adrik Schoon, White River

Soils Days results

Team contests

4-H Team Soils Judging Results

Kingsbury County 4-H: Gavin Temme, Chase Temme and Breyton Johnson, all of De Smet. Coached by Dave VanderWal.

SE Land No. 1: Ryker Bradley, Luke Horstman and Tucker Peterson, all of Salem. Coached by Tanner Peterson, Tri-Valley.

SE Land No. 2: Espn Althoff, Kendall McAreavey and Ireland McAreavey, all of Crooks; and Logan Raap, of Montrose. Coached by Tanner Peterson, Tri-Valley.

Individual contests

4-H Soils Judging

Brooks Foss, Corson County

Ryker Bradley, SE Land No. 1

Chase Temme, Kingsbury County

Espn Althoff, SE Land No. 2

Jocelyn Wagner, Spink County

Breyten Johnson, Kingsbury County

Tucker Peterson, SE Land No. 1

Remie Roduner, Jerauld County Team 1

Gavin Temme, Kingsbury County

Kendall McAreavey

FFA Soils Judging

Brooks Foss, Corson County

Ryker Bradley, SE Land No. 1

Chase Temme, Kingsbury County

Espn Althoff, SE Land No. 2

Jocelyn Wagner, Spink County

Breyten Johnson, Kingsbury County

Tucker Peterson, SE Land No. 1

Remie Roduner, Jerauld County Team 1

Gavin Temme, Kingsbury County

Kendall McAreavey

FFA Soils Judging

Logan Nielsen, DeSmet FFA